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Brazil's environment minister resigns amid probes

24 June 2021
16673
2021-06-24 12:26

Brazilian Environment Minister Ricardo Salles announced his resignation Wednesday. The move comes as talks with the U.S. government aimed at curbing Amazon deforestation have hit obstacles. Salles and President Jair Bolsonaro have been outspoken supporters of development in the Amazon, which critics say has encouraged land grabbing and illegal mining in protected areas. Preliminary data, based on satellite images, has shown year-on-year increases of Amazon deforestation for three straight months, most recently by 41% in May. Environment ministry officials including Salles are under investigation for possibly facilitating the export of illegally cut timber. Salles has denied wrongdoing in both cases.

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